Angolan police dispersed a march in Luanda on Saturday against rising fuel prices and an end to street vending, using tear gas against the demonstrators, causing panic and fainting, with reports of some injuries and detainees.

The police charge took place shortly after the march began its route towards Mutamba, about 500 meters from the meeting point, near the Santana cemetery, on the outskirts of Luanda.

The march, called by activists and members of Angolan civil society, began piecemeal at Largo do Cemitério da Santa Ana, and the demonstrators made their way to Avenida Deolinda Rodrigues shortly after 12:30, half an hour ahead of schedule.

The movement of hundreds of demonstrators, including activists, members of civil society, motorcycle taxi drivers and even "zungueiras" (street vendors) surprised the police officers on the scene, which caused them to quickly deploy after being "swallowed up" by the crowd.

Faced with the speed of the demonstrators, who were marching in both lanes of the avenue, the Rapid Intervention Police (PIR) were called in and set up a barrier just above the Operational Unit viaduct.

The barrier set up by the PIR infuriated the demonstrators who wanted to cross the viaduct, shouting "the police belong to the people and not to the MPLA (ruling party)", while another wing of the march circulated in one of the lanes under the viaduct without hindrance.

The protesters "unable" to march over the viaduct insisted on the route and, in response, the police used tear gas grenades, which caused panic and, consequently, the march to disperse.

For almost half an hour, the police fired tear gas at the demonstrators who insisted on walking along the viaduct, but also at those who had taken refuge in the surrounding areas of the Popular neighborhood, the Rangel district and the Congolese market.

Panic gripped the area and people fainted, while others sought refuge and the police reinforced their numbers with vehicles and dogs. Traffic was cut off and there were reports of detainees and injuries.

In the areas adjacent to Largo 1.º de Maio, the police also set up a strong police apparatus and tear gas grenades were also audible to disperse the demonstrators who marched under the viaduct.

The float, which contained some of the organizers who were guiding the demonstrators with slogans, also failed to pass through the police cordon on the viaduct.

"Down with poverty", "We don't want to survive, we want to live", "The price of petrol has gone up, rice has gone up, the cost of living has gone up, only wages haven't" were some of the phrases on the placards of the demonstrators, who joined the protest, considered "peaceful" by the organization.

Motorcycle taxi drivers, who say they have been penalized by the rise in fuel prices, also joined the demonstration, complaining of difficulties in carrying out their work and supporting their families.